Syllabus for A105, “Stars and Galaxies” (Section 1351)

Spring, 2008

Meets Mon & Wed, 6:35 PM – 9:35 PM in Swain Hall West 219

Instructor: Aubrie Maxwell                             

Office Hours: M,W 5:30-6:30pm and by appointment            

Office: Swain Hall West 417                           

Email: aubrie@astro.indiana.edu

Text: Universe: Stars and Galaxies, 3rd edition. Freedman and Kaufmann

            ISBN: 0-7167-9565-5 (the 8^th ed. full textbook is ok too, ISBN: 0-7167-9564-7)

Prerequisites: None, except it is expected that the students have math skills at a level of a High School graduate. (So, will there be math? –YES, but you can handle it.)

Course Description: Celestial sphere, constellations, apparent motions of celestial objects, eclipses, history of astronomy, astronomical observations, light and telescopes, the Sun, the Earth as a planet, the Moon, the planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, and the search for extraterrestrial life.

Grades and Test Schedule:

Item % of course grade When (year 2008)

Homework                               20%                                       Due in class

2 Reviews                                  5%                                       Due in class on test day

Pop Quizzes                             15%                                       Taken anytime during classes

1 Observing Project                  25%                                       Due June 4^th, in class

Midterm Exam                          17%                                       May 21^st, in class

Final Exam                               18%                                       June 11^th, 6:35-9:35, in class

A+             97-100%

A               93-97%

A-              90-93% etc…

I will reserve the right to curve the entire class, but I never curve down.

Homework: Homework is primarily multiple-choice. It is due at the beginning of class. No late homework will be accepted without permission given PRIOR to the due date.  I check my email regularly. No excuses will be accepted for homework that is late that had not been pre-approved.

Reviews: Reviews are meant to help you study for the exams. They are fill-in-the-blank and short answer, and the answers will be posted the day before it is due. It is graded purely on whether or not it has been completed.

Pop Quizzes: Pop quizzes are given randomly throughout the semester. They could be given any time during a class, and more than one can be given out each class. They will be graded, but you may drop two (2) of them (including ones you have missed by being absent). You may not make up pop quizzes for any reason. If you take all of the pop quizzes, they WILL NOT lower your final letter grade.

Lab Project:  Everyone will complete one project and hand in a write-up for that project. See the Lab Project Description page for a complete explanation of what is required of you.

Exams: Exams will cover all material covered in class up to that point. The final will not be comprehensive. They will all be a mixture of multiple-choice, short answer and others. They will cover both the book AND anything extra from the Lectures I might choose to add.

My Promise to you: IF you attend every class, complete every assignment with effort, and take time to come and ask for help repeatedly (~1/week) during office hours, you will pass this class.

Class Website: http://www.astro.indiana.edu/~classweb/a105s1351/

Class Schedule

(All dates are subject to change)

Date	Topic	What’s Due	Date	Topic	What’s Due
			May 7^th	Chapters 1-3
12^th	Chapters 4-6		14^th	Star lectures 1,2
19^th	Star Lectures 3,4		21^st	TEST 1, Star Lectures 5	Review 1
26^th	NO CLASS-- Memorial Day		28^th	Star Lectures 6,7,8
June 2^nd	Star lecture 9,Galaxies		4^th	Clusters, Dark Matter, AGN’s	Project Due
9^th	Cosmology		11^th	Cosmology,  FINAL TEST	Review 2

**This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change.  Please attend class to obtain changes. **